Almost half of ‘Red Wall’ voters think it was a bad decision for Rishi Sunak to bring back David Cameron – as Foreign Secretary faces new pressure over China links

Almost half of ‘Red Wall’ voters think it was a bad move for Rishi Sunak to appoint ex-prime minister David Cameron as Foreign Secretary, new polling has revealed.

A survey showed 49 per cent of typical ‘Red Wall’ voters thought it was the wrong decision for Mr Sunak to have brought back Lord Cameron to Government.

This compared to less than a quarter (23 per cent) who thought it was the right decision, according to a poll by More In Common.

The survey also found that almost half (48 per cent) of those known by the pollster as ‘Loyal Nationals’ – the best match for ‘Red Wall’ voters – thought Lord Cameron was no more competent than most other Cabinet ministers.

This compared starkly with ‘Established Liberals’ – who are typical of ‘Blue Wall’ voters – among whom two-fifths (40 per cent) thought Lord Cameron was more competent than most other Cabinet ministers.

Almost half of ‘Red Wall’ voters think it was a bad move for Rishi Sunak to appoint ex-prime minister David Cameron as Foreign Secretary , new polling has revealed

A survey showed 49 per cent of typical ‘Red Wall’ voters thought it was the wrong decision for Mr Sunak to have brought back Lord Cameron to Government

But ‘Established Liberals’ did not overwhelmingly support Mr Sunak’s decision to appoint one of his predecessors to Government, with 28 per cent saying it was the right decision and 28 per cent saying it was the wrong decision.

Lord Cameron’s return as Foreign Secretary was part of a dramatic Cabinet reshuffle by Mr Sunak as he attempts to revives the Tories’ fortunes ahead of the general election.

Yet the ex-premier’s appointment to lead the Foreign Office has not been without controversy, with questions being asked about his links to China during his seven-year spell in the political wilderness.

Prior to his return as Foreign Secretary, Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee had raised concerns about Lord Cameron’s appointment as vice-chair of a £1 billion UK-China investment fund.

There has also been scrutiny of the ex-PM’s involvement with the Colombo Port City in Sri Lanka, viewed as a major part of China’s controversial belt and road initiative.

Campaigners have written to Mr Sunak’s ethics chief to put pressure on Lord Cameron to set out the details of his past business dealings with China.

In a letter to Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Ministers’ Interests, Unlock Democracy director Tom Brake wrote: ‘I would argue very strongly that the disclosure of Baron Cameron’s business interests are indisputably in Parliament’s and the public’s interest.

‘I look forward to your response, setting out the action you intend to take, but I hope it will include the full, immediate and public disclosure of all of Baron Cameron’s business interests.’

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